Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-06-17

him out into the shed, and all was still
Nancy knew now what was brewing But
how to yet at jim how TO advertise he
He would be off TO Weyhill long afore she
could get to he, and she couldn't get out
without going through the room with Dick
in it, or through the window into the shed
with the stranger there. Not that they
was strangers for she know'd their voices
they was Of the Portsmouth crew.
"What should she do how should she
save her lover for he was her lover and
she knowd it. She know'd that though
she could never wed with he, she could new
er love another. Mayhap there was som'at
strange in her manners, for all she made
as though she was cheerful like, or maybe
it were from his own knowing what was
coming anyhow Dick looked sharply after
Nance all next day, and the day after, too.
It were hot, dry summer, and the days
were long, and there was a full moon that
night, and no doubt that was the more con
venient not but what the Dedmans could
make their way blndfold anywhere over
the country round, and all their crew.
Dick went off somewhere to seven, and
said, careless like, as Nancy had best not
wait for he and the old man had business
away, and would not be back till very late
mayhap, mayhap earlier. Nance waited
till he was gone, then she took her flint and
steel and fastened the door, and went to
the shed and took the nag (they had left
the old mare) she didna' wait to bride
she, but off she went as fast as the wind
for Holder Hill, over to the sou'-west from
here. And she rode and rode and went up
the hill, up to the Beacon Point, and there
was the bonfire all laid ready, #as dry as
. IL. l. ,,,1 g4-
third time she got a flame, and soon the
beacon was blazing and no mistake and
she rode and she rode toward Blackdown,
until the poor beast could 90 no longer, so
she got off and let her go. And Nance
walked and walked, until all on a sudden
the light sprung up on Breakdown, and she
knew as sure as if she saw him that her
trap had taken, that Jim had seen the fire
on Holder, and instead Of going home had
turned off to light up Blackdown.
at was the war time, you see, and he were
keen for the cause, and was the first once
before to help light up the signal. And she
hurried on and came up to he, and he turn
ed round and cried, why, Nancy, love is
it you There's been some victory, you
may depend = And she, she were out of
breath and could scarce speak but she
knew as sure as fate her brother and his
crew would come after their prey. You
see thay had worked so long together, those
Dedmans, one seemed to guess the others
thoughts like and she knew as when the
time went by, and Jim did not come home,
and they saw the light on Holder Hill and
sudden the light on Blackdown, they would
guess as how it were Nancy or maybe on
ly think that Jim was there instead of COM
ing home However it be- she felt they
would follow up there, so she cried, Fly.
Jim fly as quick as you can, down that
way. No not home Be off, be off
away as far as you can go. Take your
horse and go! They're after ye to murder
ye, and lit the fire on Holder TO turn you
from going home. They be waiting for
you, and now maybe they'll be following
you up here. Give me your coat and hat,
Jim-see I've none. I'm cold And go,
Jim-go; l can't 90 with you, Jim. Good
by, lad Oh, lad, love you, lad And
the stupid thick headed fellow as he was,
he took off his long riding coat and his
slouch hat and puts them on her, and takes
her in his arms, and she gives him one kiss
and sends him off. He steals down as qui-
ct as a mouse, untethers his nag and off he
goes London way. And Nance She stood
with her arms folded, her face to the fire
and her back to the path, so as her figure is
seen up against the flames in an uncertain
kind of way. She was as tall as young
Kemp and she waited there to gain time
for he-a decoy, we'll say. She were half
dazed with what she'd gone through, and a
strange sort of awaiting feeling as KEEP her
very still. At last she hears them coming,
and she never stirs. And Dick, from be-
hind, without waiting a minute, or taking
so much as a step for arder, fires straight
at her back and she falls forward, and he
fires again, and then they walked away,
satisfied it were Jim Kemp, for they seed
the coat and they never thought of Nancy.
well, morning came, and as they went
back and found the house empty they
thought she'd given them the slip, and they
laughed as how they had served her. They
wasn't long a-laughing the fires had made
a bestirment, and there they'd found Nan
cy Dedman-dead shot twice through the
back. And when they brought her in, the
old man fell down in fit; but Dick he said
nought, only when they said, Had Jim
Kemp done this foul deed 2 for his papers
was in his pockets, Dick said How should
he know He had allays told Nance to
have nought to do with that devil Kemp
There was an inquiry, but nought came
of it, Old Dedman had another fit and
died, and Dick went over the seas, they
never come back to settle. He sold up,
and nobody would have knowd a word
about it only he come once, when he was
getting in years, to look at Nancy's grave
to Halsemere.
''He told all as he know'd to the sexton,
Mr., Keeling, and years after Dick came as
a stranger and asked for the grave of one
Nancy Dedman, as he had fancy to see.
Though he was an old gray man, much be-
shaken, and with nought about he to speak
of murder, Mr.. Keeling, as was always one
with two pairs of eyes, determined on see
ing justice done, and he tracks the man to
the inn and brings the parson, who was
magistrate into the bargain.
But the parson found broken-down old
man, and he would not make any bestir ; it
were too long ago, he said And afore Dick
Dedman died he and the parson were the
best of friends, and from Dick parson had
it all. After Dick died, he telled Mr.. Keel
ing, who fitted in his part, and so it was
told and told again, and the tale was well
known when was a boy, though nobody
| speaks of it now. Mo Mliun's Magazine
FSignalling was done with beacon fires by night
and with semaphores by day.